We are seeking a compassionate, dedicated, and culturally responsive Youth Mental Health Counsellor to join our team. In this role, you will provide mental health assessment, therapeutic intervention, and emotional support to children and adolescents experiencing mental health, behavioural, social, and developmental challenges.

The counsellor will work with youth from diverse backgrounds, including youth who may be experiencing social, behavioural, family, educational, or environmental circumstances that place them at increased risk of involvement in crime, gangs, violence, or other harmful activities. The successful candidate will use a strengths-based, trauma-informed, and prevention-focused approach to help youth develop positive coping strategies, strengthen relationships, build resilience, and make healthy decisions.

The successful candidate will also demonstrate an understanding of, or willingness to learn about, the cultural and religious values of the Muslim community. Familiarity with Islamic principles, values, and perspectives on family, mental health, personal development, responsibility, and community well-being is considered an important asset.

The counsellor will provide services in a manner that is respectful of each young person's individual circumstances, cultural background, family values, and faith. The ability to appropriately consider cultural and faith-based factors within therapeutic work, while maintaining professional, ethical, and evidence-informed clinical practices, is highly valued.

This paid position offers an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of youth by providing early intervention, mental health support, mentorship, and positive pathways for young people who may be facing significant personal or environmental challenges.

Duties

- Conduct mental health and psychosocial assessments for children and adolescents using appropriate, evidence-informed approaches.
- Identify mental health, behavioural, social, family, educational, and environmental factors that may affect a young person's well-being and development.
- Develop individualized treatment and support plans based on each youth's unique needs, strengths, circumstances, and goals.
- Provide individual and/or family counselling and therapeutic support related to emotional regulation, behavioural concerns, anxiety, stress, relationships, self-esteem, trauma, and other mental health concerns.
- Work with youth who may be at increased risk of gang involvement, criminal activity, violence, or other high-risk behaviours, using a prevention and early-intervention approach.
- Help youth develop healthy coping mechanisms, decision-making skills, conflict-resolution skills, emotional regulation,



and positive relationships.
- Support youth in identifying positive alternatives to harmful peer groups, criminal activity, violence, and other risky behaviours.
- Work collaboratively with youth and families to identify protective factors, community supports, educational opportunities, mentorship, and other positive resources.
- Incorporate culturally responsive approaches into counselling and therapeutic interventions, recognizing the role that culture, family, community, and faith may play in a young person's well-being.
- Demonstrate sensitivity to Islamic values and principles when working with Muslim youth and families, and appropriately consider faith-based perspectives when relevant to the client's needs and preferences.
- Build trusting and respectful relationships with youth and their families while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality.
- Collaborate with parents, caregivers, educators, healthcare professionals, community organizations, and other service providers when appropriate.
- Maintain accurate and confidential documentation of assessments, sessions, treatment plans, referrals, and progress.
- Monitor client progress and adjust interventions and support plans as appropriate.
- Participate in team meetings, case discussions, community initiatives, and professional development activities.
- Remain current with developments in youth mental health, trauma-informed care, violence prevention, gang-prevention strategies, and culturally responsive practice.
- Uphold applicable professional, ethical, privacy, and safeguarding standards.

Qualifications & Experience
- Relevant post-secondary education in psychology, counselling, social work, psychotherapy, or a related field.
- Appropriate professional registration, certification, or clinical credentials required for the scope of services being provided.
- Demonstrated experience working with children and adolescents in clinical, educational, community, or related settings.
- Experience providing counselling, psychotherapy, behavioural support, youth outreach, or other mental health services to adolescents.
- Experience working with youth experiencing behavioural challenges, family difficulties, school disengagement, trauma, or other social and environmental risk factors is an asset.




- Experience working with youth involved in, or at risk of becoming involved in, gangs, violence, criminal activity, or other high-risk behaviours is considered an asset.
- Strong understanding of child and adolescent mental health and development.
- Knowledge of evidence-informed approaches to youth violence prevention, early intervention, behavioural change, and risk reduction is an asset.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trusting relationships with youth and families.
- Ability to work collaboratively with families, educators, healthcare professionals, and community partners.
- Strong documentation, organization, professional judgment, and crisis-management skills.
- Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and adhering to applicable professional and ethical standards.

Cultural & Faith-Based Competency
- Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and respect when working with Muslim children, youth, and families.
- Familiarity with Islamic principles, values, and practices, particularly as they relate to family, community, personal development, responsibility, and well-being, is strongly preferred.
- Experience working within Muslim communities or with Muslim youth and families is considered an asset.
- Ability to recognize and respectfully consider the potential role of faith, religious practices, and cultural values in a young person's mental health and support needs.
- Candidates who do not have an extensive background in Islamic principles but demonstrate strong cultural humility, openness to learning, and a genuine commitment to understanding the community are encouraged to apply.

Qualified Approach The successful candidate will demonstrate compassion, cultural humility, sound professional judgment, and a commitment to providing youth with a safe and supportive environment. The counsellor should be comfortable working with youth who may be experiencing complex social circumstances or elevated risk factors. A strengths-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and prevention-oriented approach is essential.

The goal of the role is to help young people develop the skills, relationships, support systems, and opportunities necessary to build positive futures and reduce their involvement in harmful or high-risk behaviours.

Services should remain evidence-informed and professionally appropriate while being responsive to the cultural and faith-based context of the youth and families served.

Pay: $1,200.00-$45,000.00 per year

Benefits

- Dental care
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- Mileage reimbursement
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Vision care

Work Location: In person

📌 Youth Mental Health Counsellor-Islamic Community Services (Halifax Regional Municipality)
🏢 Ummah Society
📍 Halifax Regional Municipality